IBU Cup Obertilliach

Three Salzburg debutants for the season finale

Wilma Anhaus makes her first appearance in the second biathlon league.(Bild: IBU/Koksarovs)

The Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) has nominated no fewer than eight Salzburgers for the IBU Cup season finale for biathletes in Obertilliach. With Wilma Anhaus from Neukirchen and the two Saalfelden athletes Oliver Lienbacher and Lukas Haslinger, three debutants are taking part.

Individual, sprint and mass start 60 - the biathletes still have three competitions ahead of them before the IBU Cup closes its doors for the season.

The big season finale in Obertilliach will be a premiere for some Salzburgers. In total, no fewer than eight athletes from the Salzburg Ski Association (SLSV) have been nominated: Anna Andexer (SK Saalfelden), Wilma Anhaus (USC Neukirchen), Kristina Oberthaler (USC Altenmarkt), Julia Schwaiger, Lukas Haslinger, Oliver Lienbacher, Fredrik Mühlbacher and Fabian Müllauer (all HSV Saalfelden).

The debut in the second biathlon league awaits Anhaus, Haslinger and Lienbacher in East Tyrol. "I know no mercy, I will run everything," laughs Haslinger, who was still competing at the Junior World Championships in Otepää (Estonia) just a few days ago.

His expectations for the singles, which kicks off on Wednesday? "The first 20 is always difficult. I'm therefore expecting a tough race and hopefully good shooting. Then it wouldn't look so bad."

Lienbacher - like Müllauer - will only start in the sprint and needs a good result there in order to qualify for the mass start. "That will certainly be difficult, but let's see how it goes."

Lienbacher: "A cool finish"
Basically, he is looking forward to his premiere. "I see it as an honor to be able to run. I really like it. And it gives me an idea of what it will be like next season. For me, it's a cool finish that will give me important experience."

Whether they will receive support from home is still unclear for both of them. Lienbacher's mom was just there in Estonia to keep her fingers crossed. "I can imagine my parents coming if I make it into the mass start."

Haslinger has a similar view. "No one will probably be there during the week. But they might come at the weekend."

Anhaus is already certain that her father will be following the races. How many she will compete in is still unclear. In any case, she could play to her strengths in the individual shooting.

If she were to compete in this event, she would approach it "with great respect" as she has never competed in a 15-kilometer race before.

The complete ÖSV line-up: Women: Anna Andexer, Wilma Anhaus, Kristina Oberthaler, Lisa Osl, Leonie Pitzer, Julia Schwaiger, Lara Wagner. - Men: Lukas Haslinger, Andreas Hechenberger, Oliver Lienbacher, Fredrik Mühlbacher, Fabian Müllauer, Maximilian Prosser.